The BC Ale Trail

Brew mastered.

British Columbia is considered Canada’s birthplace of craft beer. It all began with Horseshoe Bay Brewing, the nation’s first craft brewery, in 1982; since then, the industry has grown exponentially here, with the province now home to over 150, located everywhere from East Vancouver to the East Kootenays.

With all that choice, a little guidance can be nice. Enter The BC Ale Trail, a Destination British Columbia initiative that maps out craft breweries in the various regions around the province, and even breaks down a multi-day plan of which establishments to visit each day along with suggested nearby restaurants and activities. Heading to the Nanaimo area? There’s White Sails Brewing, Longwood Brewery, Forbidden Brewing Co., and more. How about the Sunshine Coast? Try Townsite Brewing and Gibsons Tapworks, plus eats from Gumboot Restaurant.

In Vancouver alone the list is extensive, with options to visit Andina Brewing Company, Brassneck Brewery, 33 Acres Brewing Company, and Red Truck Beer Company, to name just a few (fans can also get a taste for the Lower Mainland’s best at the Vancouver Craft Beer Week festival on June 2 and 3, 2018; the celebration’s opening party, which took place at the Maritime Labour Centre, featured cans from spots including Faculty Brewing Co., Main Street Brewing Company, and much more). Whether touring Mount Pleasant by bike or having a designated driver shuttle the group between Parksville and Qualicum, The BC Ale Trail serves as a pocket guidebook to all things hopped and brewed. It means that explorers can focus less on mapping out a plan and more on discussing the slight hint of pine in that tasty IPA.